The Otago University rower was named Otago rower of the year at the Otago Rowing Association awards last night.
Lequeux, who also won the award jointly with Dunstan rower Jack Pearson last year, was selected as part of the New Zealand summer squad this season and has just finished her first season training alongside Olympian Emma Twigg.
She supported Twigg as a training partner in her buildup to the Paris Olympics and Lequeux is on the cusp of reaching the national elite side herself.
Lequeux also won gold in the premier eight at the New Zealand championships and finished fourth in the premier pairs.
Dunstan were again rewarded as one of the top clubs on the night.
The Central Otago club’s men’s open quad of Henry Clatworthy, Jack Pearson, Marley King-Smith and Angus Kenny were named crew of the year, while clubmate Ruby Smith was named club rower of the year.
Simon Smith was named coach of the year, after leading Dunstan to 17 podium finishes, and three red coats — a first for the club — at the New Zealand rowing championships.
Columba rower Ciara Paterson was named female school rower of the year and John McGlashan’s Matt O’Meara won male school rower of the year.
Otago Boys’ coxed four of Seth Affleck, Toby Olleranshaw, Jude Smillie, Ollie Scott and cox Hunter Ruxton were awarded novice crew of the year.
Aidan Seyb (Otago) was named coxswain of the year and Maude O’Connell (Cromwell) was named masters rower of the year.
A new award was also introduced by the association, after it felt both administrators and officials in the sport deserved recognition.
Lauren Farnden, from North End, was named official of the year and Fay Forgie, of Port Chalmers United, picked up administrator of the year.
